Tag: encouraging devotions

Hope. I have to believe their journey was measured with steps of hope. They’ve heard the prophecies. They have studied to know when and where and what to look for and at its appearing in the sky they knew for sure, somehow, some way, that by following that particular star, it would lead them to the source of all hope being fulfilled. It would lead them to the Messiah, the true King, who is worthy to be honored, worshipped and praised (Matthew 2:1-2).

There’s a lot of following and pursuits that people chase after every day. But, if those steps aren’t leading us closer to the true King then it is a vain journey. To have that wonderful life or miracle of newness on any street we don’t need to wait for a fictitious figment of our imagination to come to town. We need to place one spiritual foot in front of the other and go after the true Star.

Not the twinkling celestial bodies in the sky that give light to the objects below, but the Star who is the “light of the world,” (John 8:12) that allows us to escape the darkness of sin and breathes new life into the dreary souls of these world travelers, illuminating a new path for our journey.

It is Him we are to look for. It is Christ we are to chase after. And, as they say, “Wise men still seek Him.” Therefore, follow the Star. For He is not only the King of the Jews the men of the old days were seeking after. He is also the King of our hearts and the fulfiller of all the hope we are in search of.

Like this:

One thing I have reluctantly had to admit is that I don’t always have Abraham faith. When one really delves into his story, his story was laden with change. Change, often times, is something I have been pretty resistant to.

Let’s face it, leaving your own home is no small feat (Genesis 12:1), especially during the Bible era. In our day we have options to hop back on a plane and usually, there are provisions and backup plans that are available if that adventurous leap of faith didn’t work out. And, this could all be done in a matter of hours.

I imagine it wasn’t quite that easy back then. But, then again, maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe not having easy access to falling back into one’s comfort zone is a blessing in disguise for it forces that venture forward. It forces us to take on new terrain and enter new callings as we try to acclimate and navigate our new surroundings and circumstances.

Often I feel the ease of looking back hinders our progress. Unchartered territories can be scary, uncomfortable, and demanding of our time, talent, and emotions. But what if it leads to something greater? What if that step of faith allows you to do something miraculous that you could never see yourself doing? What if it opened new doors of opportunity that you never could have imagined being able to walk through?

I guess that’s why it’s called faith. Almost blindly, without full perception and without knowing where every piece of the puzzle already fits, we are asked to play along anyway. Engage in the unknown no matter what the current reality says. After all, according to the Bible, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,” (Hebrews 11:1).

Comfort zones, though they appear safe, are in fact very dangerous. Walking in the land of familiarity may seem like a sure bet but in them lays unexpected traps. Traps where dreams lose their freshness. Traps where ideas lose their strength to be propelled forward. Traps where talents get wasted in this pit of unseen snares.

God has always wanted the best for all His people. But, when He calls, it is up to them to make the move. He may not be asking you to leave your homeland, but where or what do you feel Him pulling you toward? What area of your comfort zone has become so stale that now it too is very uncomfortable, yet, you’re still too afraid to make a move?

If Abraham had not put action behind his calling, he would have never been dubbed the father of faith, and so many things in our biblical history would not be traced back to his stepping out moment.

I wonder if we boldly step out today, what miraculous future events will point back to our time when we chose to leave the safety of our comfort zones?

One thing is for sure if we stay where we are, and if we keeping doing the same thing over and over again, nothing will ever change. Don’t substitute comfort and reluctance to change for what can be. Who knows what God wants to write in your future story? Step out of your comfort zone and let Him write something amazing!

Like this:

Job 1:20-22 “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”

Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Job 19:25-27 “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.”

Anytime we see a “…” in a sentence it expresses a train of thought and direction or a transition if you will. That “…” is very important to this message.

Times of transition can be good and bad. When one is engrossed in unpleasant circumstances a nice change of pace can be just what the doctor ordered. It breathes new life into you and lifts your spirits high making you feel as if you are on cloud nine. At the same time, when one is entering times of affliction, lack of any sort of substandard anything compared to what they are used to, the feelings of dread and just suffering through take over.

There are different seasons that everyone goes through in life. There are times of joy and there are times of pain. While we don’t mind dealing with the seasons of joy and happiness that come our way, a whole other story could be told for the times of pain and suffering we encounter.

There are seasons, even for the Christian, that come that are not too pleasant. There are times when the people of God had to endure trials and tribulations. There are episodes of turmoil that have wiggled their way into our families, our lives, our jobs, and our finances.

Sometimes difficult and new stuff pops up out of nowhere, things you weren’t looking to happen in this season of life, and it has blindsided you and caught you off guard. There may be things that surprised you and now you just don’t know which way you are going. The road hasn’t always been easy to travel. We are looking for the new. We need a transition. We are in need of a “…” moment.

It’s time to move from the victim mentality and don a praise mentality. It’s time to move from the feeling defeated mentality to no matter what’s going in my life, “…Lord, I just want to thank You” mentality.

A praise mentality says no matter the situation we are going through I still have a reason to worship. We still have a reason to lift our hands in utter adoration! We still have a reason to fall to our knees in prayer! We still have a reason to believe His grace and mercy is at work in our lives! I still have a reason to say, “Thank You!”

Job is one of the most figurative Bible characters who we surmise as suffering outside of Jesus Christ our Savior. So, I figured if anybody can teach us how to be thankful despite what we’re going through it could be Job.

Job was a man whom God describes in the Bible as being upright and perfect, Job 1:8. He is known for turning himself away from the path of evil, not giving it a foothold in his life. Yet, in his righteous living, he was still susceptible to being tested in some of the worse ways possible. He lost everything from possessions down to the very people he loved the most in life.

Job’s experiences can be summed up in that one word: suffering. Job knew suffering. Job knew what it was like to love and lose; to have and to have not. What’s more is he lost everything at the same time, piling traumatic event after traumatic event on till he thought his heart couldn’t take any more (read Job 1-2 for greater detail).

Sitting in a pile of ashes with seemingly nothing left, could he at least find comfort in the good word of a friend? Will they speak encouragement to help him carry the weight of his burdensome troubles?

The answer sadly is, “No.” His friends started out with good intentions but by the time they reach chapter 4, Job’s friends became what is known as “miserable comforters.” They decided to chime in with their opinions of what was right and wrong. This was where their attempts at comfort went downhill. They berated Job and blamed him for all that he was going through.

Job literally had no one and the weight of the world was upon his shoulders, but his response to his trials is what blew my mind away. When things first began to unravel for him, in the verses we read in chapter 1 he shaved his head, fell down on his face and he worshipped.

The words that came out of his mouth were of praise and thanks. He said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!

That word “blessed” is synonymous with celebrating God with praise in spite of. That word blessed is acknowledging God is good no matter what the circumstances around me say. That word blessed is also translated in the New and Old Testament to give thanks! “Blessed be the name of the LORD!” Job, with his shaved head of sorrow and humble spirit, gave God thanks amid the sorrow he was going through!

His response reminds me of Psalm 34:1 where the psalmist proclaimed, “I will bless the Lord at all times and His praise shall continually be in my mouth!” I will thank God always and I will never stop celebrating His goodness! I will show God gratitude always and I will never stop lifting Him up. I will appreciate God even in this and I will never stop recognizing that He and He only is God of my life.

Ephesians 5:20 says, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” My always for all things may not look the way I want it to right now, but Lord I thank You, is what he’s saying! I am not saying thank you because I like problems, but I am saying thank You because I know the God I serve. I am saying thank you because He is working on the inside to change things on the outside. I am saying thank you because God is setting us up for a future that is glorious in Him! Therefore, “…Lord, I just want to thank You!”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I am in Christ; therefore I give thanks! I have been washed by the blood, therefore I give thanks. Yes, life hurts sometimes and yes, the walls come crashing down sometimes, but I owe God a praise. I thank God for seeing me through every trouble, every storm that blows my way! “…Lord, I just want to thank You!”

Job’s response went even further than this. In Job 19, he said, “For I know that my Redeemer lives.” Things were not exactly turning in his favor. At that time, his today didn’t look any better than his yesterday. His friends are still in his face challenging him with their accusations. But, despite his personal persecutions, he emphatically declares, “I know . . .”

Knowing speaks of assurance. A declaration of knowing tells doubt there is no place here for you. “Know”is certain that this is what it is. And, what he is certain of is “my redeemer liveth.” God is alive and will always be alive. “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty,” (Revelation 1:8).

“He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” Job knew that God was and is the end-all of all authority, victory and power. Standing upon anything denotes mastery and dominion of said object. Job knew where his trust lies. In God who is victorious: “Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him,” (Psalm 68:1). Paul, speaking of Christ said He, “hath put all things under his feet…,” (Ephesians 1:22). Even this.

“And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” There is hope beyond the here and now. Physically, it didn’t look good for Job. He had “sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown,” (Job 2:7). He, in dealing with the pain of his body and the pain of his heart must have thought there is not that much more time left. At one point of desperation, things had gotten so bad, Job prayed for death (see Job 6:8-9).

Despite it all, he knew that there was a better day beyond the corruption of his flesh. His body, when the time came, would lie in the ground and the worms would have their way with him, but he looked forward to another glorious time when “in my flesh shall I see God.” Things were hard for Job, but in his speech, you can still see his faith alive and active in what he believes: and he believes GOD! Therefore, “I bless God! I give God thanks!”

Job teaches us how to respond to God in midst of trials and troubles. He may have been down, especially when his friends attacked him, but he still recognized God for who He is. He basically transitioned his mentality to shift his focus from what was before him to the God who can save Him.

Yes, he grew weary and even questioned why he was going through what he was going through. Who wouldn’t? But, through it all you still see his faith in God come to the forefront in the midst of his story.

In the end, Job was blessed with a double portion of blessings. God testified of Job to his friends. God spoke up for Job and said, “My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath,” (Job 42:7).

It’s not too late for God to turn it around and to testify on your behalf. The week of Thanksgiving is here, and this year is not over yet. There is still room for a blessing. And, even if not – if God never does another thing for us, can we say, “Lord, I thank You?”

At the end of the day, as hard as it may be sometimes, we must transition our thinking and say “… But Lord, I thank YOU!”

Like this:

How many go through their day complacent in the status quo? No passion for life. No zeal for better. Just run the ordinary course of the ordinary life jogger, following the crowd, content with a heart that’s just beating but not alive.

A heart that is alive thrills at the unknown. A heart that is alive craves to pump its life source throughout every crevice of its being. Those who seek for God are not content with just the rhythmic beat of every other man. Their heart wants to thump against the chest wall to express the life that lives in it through Him.

When one seeks God it stirs up something on the inside of them. It stirs a wanting of more. Kind of like a first love. You seek to be near that person or to simply hear their voice. When contact is made it makes the heart beat a little faster and you feel alive! God promises those that look for Him with that same passion your hearts shall live. Your heart will tell a story all its own about the love that dwells in it for the one you seek.

Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly,” (John 10:10). He wants hearts alive; hearts that live for seeking Him more and more. From that they will reap not the status quo rather an abundance of life that flows from Him. If the beat of your heart is a little slower these days, or your faith is not getting as excited as it used at the first, check to see who or what you have been seeking after. It may be that you have been looking for love, acceptance and passion everywhere but the right place. But, we have this promise, “you who seek God, your hearts shall live!”

Like this:

“Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”1 Peter 4:8

Love makes the difference! There’s no way around it. God is love (1 John 4:8). Jesus died because of love (John 3:16). And now we are admonished to have that same “fervent charity/love” toward one another. Christians are to have a love for each other that cannot be easily extinguished by life’s difficulties. Paul wrote, “Ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another,” (Gal. 5:13; emphasis mine). The love and compassion we have in us should be poured out freely to one another.

“For charity/love shall cover the multitude of sins.” God’s love, through His Son Jesus, covered a “multitude” of my sins and yours. We are to be imitators of our heavenly Father. Proverbs 10:12 tells us, “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.” Both of these verses pronounce love as a covering. It’s not that we don’t see, feel or hurt at the wrongs of others, it’s all about what we choose to do with it. Much like God (although we can never touch the capacity of His love), our love is to be so on-fire for one another that it causes us to look beyond the faults of others and see to the core of their very need. That’s how love makes a difference!

Like this:

“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters . . .” Isaiah 55:1

Come to the waters, the Lord beckons. This world will tire you out and the pursuit of it will leave you drained. Refreshment can only be found in Him. As one traipsing through a desert of darkness that this world so often leads you through, His plentiful Spirit will satiate the aridness and will water your life where it was once dry.

Do you need that touch from Him?

Come!

Do you need that refreshing spring that flows from the everlasting Father?

Come!

Do you need the tenderness and hope that can only be found in the stream of His salvation?

Come!

Do you need to be rejuvenated into new birth in the waters of His spiritual deliverance?

Then, come!

Don’t lighten your pace. Run with haste to the pool of His mercy and grace, and come. Don’t let anyone stop you from dipping in. Dive in with full surrender and with full abandon, and come.

A sip just won’t do. We are thirsty for You, O God! We have nothing to offer for the price You paid, yet, You say come. We have no value on our own, but You speak, come anyway. There is no good thing that dwells in our flesh (Romans 7:18), but You invite us to draw near to You and come.

Come to the waters. Step into the abundant life He so offers (John 10:10). Come and let your soul be spiritually satisfied. Come and take the offer of His salvation for yourself.

Come, and don’t turn away. Don’t give up this great treasure that can only be found in God. Don’t let the delight of what the Lord Jesus Christ bought for you on that cross slip through your fingers.

“Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live . . .” (Isaiah 55:3, NKJV). Live in Him. Live in the peace He offers through the pouring out of His blood. Live a life free from spiritual drought because you were once thirsty and you came and partook of His holy waters.

Yes, this world will dry you out, but He restores, He redeems, and He puts in right fellowship with Him every thirsty soul that comes to Him and drinks. Jesus said, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life,” (John 4:14).

Like this:

“He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; For they were too strong for me,” 2 Samuel 22:18

“Is there anything too hard for me?” is a question God asked Jeremiah, (Jer. 32:27). “Is there anything too hard for the Lord?” was the question God put to Abraham after Sarah laughed at the possibility of having a child in her old age. Luke 1:37 tells us, “For with God nothing shall be impossible,” and yet, when faced with things in this life we don’t understand and heartaches untold, we often feel our situations are out of His reach. As if the problems that overwhelm us are too strong for Him, also.

Due to the anointing on his life, David faced enemies who hated him for no reason. He spent many days with his life hanging in the balance. But, in the end, he declared, “He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too strong for me,” (2 Sam. 22:18). I’m wondering, is there anything you have been facing lately that just seems off the charts? Do the difficulties you face feel like it’s just too much to handle? Are you going through a situation that seems “too strong” for you?

Take heart today! There is no weight too heavy that God can’t lift it! There is no enemy too strong that God can’t overcome them! There is no miracle too miraculous that God can’t cause it to come to pass! There is nothing too hard for God in any situation, problem or adversity we may face! The enemies and hardship you face today may seem to overwhelm you but they will never overwhelm God. They are never too strong for God to handle. So, with that being said, whatever you face, give it to God and wait for Him to bring you through. God is strong enough to take on anything! We can trust Him with whatever is “too strong” for us. God can deliver you today!

Like this:

Do you ever wonder why Christians have to deal with so much stuff from people? Why does it seem the rights of everyone else are important all the while our rights are trying to be diminished by opposing forces? Why does it seem that we are singled out to be somebody to mess with when the cut-ups of this world get by on a free pass.

I’ll tell you why.

Things are set in motion like that to try to discourage us from our walk with Christ; our belief. The fact of the matter is our lives are convicting to those who fight against God and His plan for humanity. God, through His Word, tells of a holy requirement He desires to see played out in the lives of each and every individual. Those who seek after the flesh and revel in carnality and sin don’t want the same desires as He. Rather, they fight vehemently against it and anything that resembles it (i.e. Christians).

Once Jesus taught, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid,” Matthew 5:14. You shine for Him. You magnify His brightness and glory in the midst of degradation and sin. You are a beacon to show people the way to this wonderful life in Him through the darkness and disparity of this world. As a Christian, you look like Him (in character), you talk like Him and that bothers those who oppose Him.

In a life that has been transformed by His renewing power, it becomes a living testimony to grace, mercy, and the power of salvation working itself out in humanity. Although these wonderful things are available to all for the asking, few choose to look to Him for those wonderful gifts. They would much rather pursue the things of the flesh than that of the Spirit causing war and contentions with those who walk and talk differently then them.

Nonetheless, I urge you brother and sister in Christ, keep walking the holy walk. No matter the fighting. No matter the contentions. Keep showing this world, through the life you live, what a mighty God we serve. Philippians tells us we are, “In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world,” (2:15). By the continual light of Christ beaming from your life, you are helping others to draw nearer to Him; you are helping others to see the hope that is available if they would but turn.

The life we live may cause us discomfort at times, but the reward of having others see Christ in us is immeasurable. You and I can positively effect change in the lives of others for eternity. I think, my friends, that far outweighs the opposition we may face today.

And, as we are living, let us always remember we have nothing to boast or be arrogant about. We are saved today because somebody else stood up as a light for us showing us the way; somebody else’s lives were convicting, pricking our hearts to want to know Him more. Our salvation is NEVER anything for us to glory in. We can only glory in our Savior who gave His life that we might have new life in Him. We are now vessels filled with His grace that we might positively pour into and shine in the lives of others.

Like this:

The day before Sunday is like no other. It’s the day that comes at the end of the work week and comes before the day of worship. There are so many possibilities with this day. Sleep in or go out? Veg out in front the TV or seek adventure? Clean or do you say forget it, “I clean every day and today I’m taking a break!” How will you spend your time?

Time. That’s a four little word with great impact. Time is something we can never get back. Time is something that will keep moving forward whether you are ready to go with it or not. Time is precious. Time is valuable. How one spends their time can either add to their life or take away from it.

Time. Extra time is not promised. We can’t buy more time. Rather, we must lay hold of with an iron grip the time that has been allotted to us and make the best use of it for our lives, our families, and our ministries.

Time. What will you do with it? We deserve rest because we worked hard. Take the time. We deserve adventure, something that will heighten our senses because we have stayed the course of the mundane all week. Take the time. Clean? . . . well, we’ll just leave that one alone for now.

Time. As crazy as it seems to us, it goes by in a flash when you don’t want it to and it drags when you wish it would speed up. That’s why every moment counts. Every opportunity should be seized. Every second savored.

Time. We don’t have as much of it as we would like, and yet God blessed us with the amount we need. How we choose to use it is up to us.

What will you do with your time today? There is no right or wrong answer. If you worked hard and want to sit in front of the tv because your brain needs a few hours vacation, then do so. If your body has been stuck in the office all week and you feel a need to stretch and exercise to get it moving, then do so. If you chose to let the house go one day so that you can have time for yourself, then do so. It’s Saturday! It’s your time! Make the most of it for you!

Keep in mind, once this Saturday goes by, it will not come again. Oh, yes, there will be other Saturdays, but not this Saturday. There will be other chances and opportunities, but not like today. Today is for you – it’s your Saturday, what will you do?

Ephesians 5:16 encourages us to redeem the time. Grab hold of today and make the most of it! It’s only here today. So, what will you do with today?

Whatever you do, make today count! It’s Saturday, enjoy “you” on this day!

Like this:

Deep breath in. With what seems to be the weight of the world on her shoulders, she marched forward not sure of the outcome. . .

People grapple with decisions every day. Choices that make us question is this or is this not the right time or thing for me to do at this very moment. After all, these daily decisions and choices we make don’t stay within the premise of the day. Rather, they are far more reaching and can become a foreteller of what our future will be tomorrow.

Nevertheless, Queen Esther refused to fight with the what-ifs of life. She didn’t hesitate about the next step she had to take. She prayed. She fasted. With great resolve and determination, her heart was ready to go see the king (see the story of Esther in the Bible).

Imagine a race, if you will. There you are at the starters block and the gun raises to sound the time to go. If there be just a moment of hesitation the race would already be lost and one cannot claim the victory at the end.

The question is are we ready? Do we have hearts that are fixed and minds made up with the same determination and resolve to go at the sounding of our time?

Queen Esther did. She was a woman ready. She would do what she had to do to save her people, even if it cost her life. But, she didn’t let fear have its way. Through the court gates she went, approaching the king, where her readiness of heart and mind gained her the victory.

Male or female. Be determined in where God is calling you for such a time as this. Be ready to step out in faith and believe that you will see the victory in the end. Now, go.